This is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read and was adored by every member of my book club. Allende juxtaposes a fictional story of three generations of the discordant Trueba family with the tumultuous history of a Latin American country (obviously Chile, although never identified). This book is a testimony to the strength and power of women in a masculine, often brutal, culture; you will cry for and with the indomitable women who inhabit its pages.
I would have categorized this book as historical fiction, but according to experts far more knowledgeable than I, it is more accurately classified as 'magical realism'. The women residing in this book have clairvoyant and extrasensory powers that are woven so seamlessly into the pages you believe they are not only possible but completely normal.
An incredible achievement.... I'm off to buy more of her books...